Match recap: Club Pachuca 2, Club Tijuana 0

While Club Tijuana opened the season with a shutout streak on defense, they could be facing one on offense now. While Xolos’ last goal was almost 200 minutes ago, Pachuca was able to get goals from Ángelo Sagal and Erick Gutíerrez to win 2-0.

Tijuana had a good chance early on. In the fourth minute Alejandro Guido put a shot on frame that Alfonso Blanco bobbled, but Blanco was able to recover and hang on to the ball.

In the 21st minute, Pachuca was able to spring Ángelo Sagal past the back line. Sagal ran left and shot across his body far post, the shot was true, and Tuzos had the early lead.

The first half though was largely a dull affair. Tijuana’s offense rarely progressed beyond midfield, and the forward triumvirate of Gustavo “Pantera” Bou on the left, Ignacio “Nacho” Malcorra on the right, and Juan Lucero in the center was largely ineffectual. Part of this can be attributed to both Pantera Bou and Nacho Malcorra being played out of their natural positions, but Lucero was largely ineffectual in his role as well.

The second half was much more of the same, although while Tijuana held the advantage in possession and shots in the first half it was Pachuca taking the lead in those categories. Both teams had precious few good opportunities on goal. Keisuke Honda hit a free kick at 85’ that Gibran Lajud punched out, but the chances for both teams were few and far between.

In the 89th minute, Erick Gutíerrez would capitalize on one of those few opportunities. Erick Aguirre broke through the Xolos defense and put a shot on net. Lajud got a hand on the ball but it went wide to Gutíerrez, who hit a shot off of the far post and in to give Tuzos the 2-0 lead.

Guti had a fantastic game for Pachuca, controlling play and generally making his case to follow former teammate Hirving “Chucky” Lozano abroad to Europe.

Xolos will head home to face Pumas on Saturday, while Pachuca will head to Guadalajara to face Chivas Saturday evening.

Club Pachuca: Alfonso Blanco; Joaquín Martínez (Emmanuel García, 46’), Óscar Murillo, Francisco Peña, Raúl López; Jorge Hernández; Sebastián Palacios (Erick Aguirre, 60’), Erick Gutíerrez, Keisuke Honda (Robert Herrera, 89’), Erick Sánchez; Ángelo Sagal

Club Tijuana: Gibran Lajud; Damián Pérez, Juan Carlos Valenzuela, Jesús Chávez, Omar Mendoza; Ignacio Malcorra, Alejandro Guido (Julio Angulo, 68’), Luis Chávez (Mateus Gonçalves, 58’); Ignacio Rivero; Juan Martín Lucero (Jose Alberto García, 80’), Gustavo Bou

Scoring: Club Pachuca - Ángelo Sagal (21’), Erick Gutíerrez (89’); Club Tijuana - None

Disciplinary: Club Pachuca - Óscar Murillo (Yellow - 26’), Erick Gutíerrez (Yellow - 60’); Club Tijuana - Omar Mendoza (54’), Damián Pérez (Yellow - 75’)